NFL Roundup

BR Staff

05/22/2002

<B>Leaf branches out</B>

Ryan Leaf wasn't without a job for long as he signed with the Seahawks Tuesday. The Dallas Cowboys cut him Monday, the third team in 15 months to release the former No. 2 overall draft pick. He was expendable with the emergence of Quincy Carter and the recent acquisition of former Stanford quarterback Chad Hutchinson, who spent the past four seasons playing pro baseball.

In Seattle Leaf will be the third quarterback on the depth chart behind starter Trent Dilfer and backup Matt Hasselbeck.

Vikings WR search continues

Despite adding D'Wayne Bates the Vikings continue to look for receiving help. Minnesota has had no contact with Green Bay WR Antonio Freeman because he's still under contract with the Packers, but the team will likely make a run at the wideout once he waived by Green Bay.

The Packers are hopeful of coming to an agreement before the June 1 date where the veteran receiver can be released from cap-unfriendly deal.

Keenan McCardell, viewed by the Vikings as their No. 2 option at WR if a deal with Derrick Alexander falls through, may well get the $3-4 million a year he's seeking, since Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Washington are all expected to make strong bids for his services after June 1.

Davis has knee surgery

Denver running back Terrell Davis, who missed several Broncos games the last three seasons because of leg injuries, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

Davis scheduled the surgery when he felt discomfort after this month's mini-camp. It was his second arthroscopic procedure in six months.

Davis is scheduled to be ready for the Broncos' training camp in July, but could miss the June 10-14 mini-camp.

"This is more precautionary than anything else," Schwartz told The Denver Post. "It's better to be safe than sorry. So Terrell has decided to do this for his own peace of mind."

Davis has played in 17 of 49 games in the three seasons since 1998, his MVP season in which he rushed for 2,008 yards.

He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the fourth game of the 1999 season. A foot and ankle injury in his left leg early in the 2000 season eventually was diagnosed as a stress reaction. He was sidelined for all but four games.

In 2001, he missed eight more games after arthroscopic surgery on both knees.